Contact lens with integrated pulse oximeter

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, systems and methods employing a contact lens having a pulse oximetry sensor to detect information indicative of a blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens, are provided. In some aspects, a contact lens includes a substrate that forms at least part of a body of the contact lens and a pulse oximetry sensor located on or within the substrate that detects information associated with at least one of blood oxygen content or a pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens. The pulse oximetry sensor comprises one or more light emitting diodes that illuminate a blood vessel of at least one of a region of an eye or an eyelid and a detector that receives light reflected from the blood vessel and generates the information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/590,860, filed Aug. 21, 2012, which is currently pending.The entire disclosure contents of this application are herewithincorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to measuring and reporting anindividual's blood oxygen saturation and pulse via a contact lens.

BACKGROUND

In various settings it is necessary or desired to measure pulse rate orblood oxygenation of an individual. Generally, hospitals and medicalcare givers use finger or ear lobe pulse oximeters to obtain suchreadings. However, these devices are difficult to wear on a routinebasis as well as during performance of physical activities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustration of an exemplary non-limiting system thatincludes a contact lens employing a pulse oximetry sensor to detectinformation indicative of blood oxygen content or a pulse rate of awearer of the contact lens in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIGS. 1B and 1C depict enlarged perspectives of an example contact lensin accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example contact lens circuit for acontact lens employing a pulse oximetry sensor to detect informationindicative of blood oxygen content or a pulse rate of a wearer of thecontact lens in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example pulse oximetry sensor thatdetects information indicative of blood oxygen content or a pulse rateof a wearer of the contact lens in accordance with aspects describedherein.

FIGS. 4A-4E depict various perspectives of an example contact lensemploying a pulse oximetry sensor to detect information indicative ofblood oxygen content or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens inaccordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 5A depicts a cross-sectional view of an example contact lens beingworn in/on an eye when the eye is open in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 5B depicts a cross-sectional view of an example contact lens beingworn in/on an eye when the eye is closed in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary non-limiting reader devicethat receives from a contact lens, information indicative of bloodoxygen content or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens inaccordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow diagram of a method for detectinginformation indicative of blood oxygen content or pulse rate of a wearerof a contact lens in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flow diagram of a method that facilitatesreceiving from a contact lens, information indicative of blood oxygencontent or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens using the contactlens in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a schematic diagram of an exemplarynetworked or distributed computing environment with which one or moreaspects described herein can be associated.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a schematic diagram of an exemplarycomputing environment with which one or more aspects described hereincan be associated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a morethorough understanding of one or more aspects. It is evident, however,that such aspects can be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram formin order to facilitate describing one or more aspects.

In one or more aspects, the disclosed subject matter relates to acontact lens. The contact lens can include a substrate that forms atleast part of a body of the contact lens and a pulse oximetry sensorlocated on or within the substrate that detects information associatedwith at least one of blood oxygen content or pulse rate of a wearer ofthe contact lens. The pulse oximetry sensor comprises one or more lightemitting diodes that illuminate one or more blood vessels of at leastone of a region of an eye or an eyelid, and a detector that receiveslight reflected from the blood vessel(s) and generates the information.

In another aspect, a method is disclosed comprising detectinginformation associated with at least one of blood oxygen content orpulse rate of a wearer of a contact lens using a pulse oximetry sensorlocated on or within the contact lens. The pulse oximetry sensor cancomprise one or more light emitting diodes and a detector. In an aspect,the method comprises illuminating a blood vessel of at least one of aregion of an eye or an eyelid via the one or more light emitting diodes,receiving reflected light reflected from the blood vessel at thedetector, and generating the information based in part on the reflectedlight.

In one or more additional aspects a device is presented comprising aninterface component that interfaces with and receives from a contactlens, data relating to at least one of a blood oxygen content or a pulserate of a wearer of a contact lens, an analysis component that analyzesthe received data and determines at least one of blood oxygen content orpulse rate of a wearer of a contact lens, and a display component thatgenerates a display corresponding to the data.

The apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein relate to a contactlens with means for detecting and determining blood oxygen contentand/or a pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens. As used herein, theterm blood oxygen content refers to percentage of hemoglobin in theblood that is saturated with oxygen (e.g. blood oxygen saturation, bloodoxygenation level or SpO₂. The contact lens can further wirelesslytransmit information pertaining to blood oxygen content or pulse rate ofa wearer of a contact lens to a remote device. In an aspect, the remotedevice can request information from the contact lens and the contactlens can generate and transmit information in response to the request.

In order to detect an individual's blood oxygenation level and/or pulserate via a contact lens, the contact lens can employ a pulse oximetrysensor. A pulse oximetry sensor estimates noninvasively degree of oxygensaturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood. In an aspect, the sensor ofthe oximeter employs one or more light sources (e.g. light emittingdiodes LEDs) that radiate a section of the eye, and/or eyelid of the eyein which the contact lens is worn, with light having a known measurablesignal (e.g. a known wavelength or modulated signal or known intensityof light). The light contacts hemoglobin contained in red blood cells. Acertain amount of light is absorbed by the hemoglobin and a certainamount of light not absorbed and becomes reflected or transmitted light.The reflected or transmitted light is sensed by a detector. The amountof light absorbed depends on the wavelength of light and level ofhemoglobin oxygenation. The detector further generates a signalcorresponding to the amount of light reflected or transmitted.

By knowing the wavelength of light being applied to sensor by a lightsource and relative amount of light being reflected/transmitted,relative blood oxygen saturation can be computed. In addition, pulserate or the wearer of the contact lens can be determined by observingperiodic changes in a signal produced by the detector. In particular,the light source can illuminate a blood vessel over a period of time asthe blood vessel expands and contracts. The monitored signal bounces intime with each heart beat because arterial blood vessels expand andcontract with each heartbeat. The greater amount of blood present withinthe blood vessel associated with each expansion affects light absorptionat the detector. Similarly, the lesser amount of blood present withinthe blood vessel associated with each contraction affects lightabsorption at the detector. Therefore, by examining the varying part ofthe absorption spectrum, (essentially, subtracting minimum absorptionfrom peak absorption) pulse rate of the wearer of the contact lens canbe determined from the time variance between varying amounts of lightdetected in response to illumination of the blood vessel between bloodvessel expansion and contraction.

In an aspect, signals generated by the pulse oximeter sensor of thecontact lens can be captured by a local integrated circuit and analyzedby a microprocessor located on/within the contact lens itself todetermine blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate of the wearer of thecontact lens. The determined information can further be reported out viaan RF interface. In another aspect, the detected information can betransmitted to a remote device for processing.

In an aspect, the pulse oximeter provided with the subject contactlenses can be a transmission oximeter sensor. The transmission oximetersensor operates by transmitting light through a portion of the eyecontaining one or more blood vessels and measures an amount of lighttransmitted through the portion of the eye to a detector on an oppositeside of the light source. The characteristics of light transmitted intoone side of the eye can then be compared with light detected on anopposite side of the eye to compute oxygen saturation. In anotheraspect, the pulse oximeter provided with the subject contact lenses canbe a reflectance pulse oximeter sensor. The reflectance pulse oximetersensor measures reflected light off of a blood vessel in the eye inand/or an eyelid of the eye in which the contact lens is worn to measureblood oxygen saturation. The reflectance pulse oximetry sensor has alight source positioned on a same side of the blood vessel as thedetector. In this configuration, the detector receives light that isscattered back (reflected) to the detector.

FIG. 1A is an illustration of an exemplary non-limiting system 100 thatincludes a contact lens 102 employing a pulse oximetry sensor to detectinformation indicative of blood oxygen saturation and/or pulse rate ofan individual in which the contact lens 102 is worn in accordance withaspects described herein. The system 100 includes a contact lenscovering at least a portion of an eye 104 and having a contact lenscircuit 106. The contact lens circuit 106 can be described in greaterdetail with reference to FIG. 2. The contact lens circuit 106 caninclude the pulse oximetry sensor (not shown) to detect informationindicative of blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate of the wearer ofthe contact lens. In particular, the pulse oximetry sensor can generatea signal corresponding to amount of light transmitted through and/orreflected off a blood vessel in the eye 104 and/or an eyelid over aperiod of time. The information detected by the pulse oximetry sensorcan be captured via the contact lens circuit 106.

The contact lens circuit 106 including the pulse oximetry sensor can belocated on and/or within a substrate of the contact lens. For example,the contact lens 102 may comprise a hydrogel substrate, such as asilicone hydrogel. One or more LEDs and/or detectors of the contact lenscan further be located on and/or within a thickness of the hydrogel.

The pulse oximetry sensor can be integrated physically and/orcommunicatively with contact lens circuit 106. However, in some aspects,the contact lens circuit 106 may be separated physically and/orcommunicatively from the pulse oximetry sensor. For example, FIGS. 1Band 1C depict enlarged perspectives of an example contact lens 102 inaccordance with aspects described herein. FIG. 1B depicts across-sectional view of contact lens 102 while FIG. 1C depicts atopical/planar view of contact lens 102.

As seen in FIG. 1B, contact lens circuit 106 is located within thesubstrate (e.g. within the thickness of the hydrogel) of the contactlens 102 and is depicted as a single unit. However, it should beappreciated that contact lens circuit 106 and/or one or more componentsassociated with contact lens circuit 106 can be located on and/or withinthe substrate. According to this aspect, the contact lens circuit 106and its associated components, including the pulse oximetry sensor, areco-located and communicatively coupled.

In another embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1C, one or more components ofcontact lens circuit 106 can be physically dispersed on and/or withinthe contact lens 102. For example, components of contact lens circuit106 as presented in FIG. 1C are divided. According to this example, thepulse oximetry sensor can be physically separated from other componentsof the contact lens circuit. Further, components of the pulse oximetrysensor, such as one or more LEDs and/or one or more detectors can bephysically dispersed on and/or within the contact lens 102 substrate. Inany embodiment, one or more components of the contact lens circuit 106,including the pulse oximetry sensor, may be communicatively coupled viaone or more wires 112.

Referring back to FIG. 1A, in some aspects, the contact lens 102 caninclude one or more components (not shown) to communicate detectedand/or determined information. For example, the components can include aradio frequency (RF) antenna in some aspects. In some aspects, theinformation 108 can be communicated to a reader 110. In some aspects,the reader 110 can be an RF reader. Accordingly, the contact lens 102can wirelessly communicate with a reader 110. Further, in some aspects,the reader 110 can request information from the contact lens 102 and inresponse, the contact lens can generate and transmit requestedinformation.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a contact lens circuit for a contact lensemploying a pulse oximetry sensor in accordance with aspects describedherein. FIG. 3 is a detailed depiction of a pulse oximetry sensor inaccordance with aspects described herein. In various aspects, thecontact lens circuit 200 can include one or more of the structure and/orfunctionality of the contact lens circuit 106 (and vice versa).

As shown in FIG. 2, the contact lens circuit 200 can include controlcomponent 210, pulse oximetry sensor 220, circuitry 230, power source240, transceiver 250, memory 260 and/or microprocessor 270. In someaspects and as depicted in FIG. 2, the contact lens circuit 200 includesthe pulse oximetry sensor 220 and its associated components. In otheraspects, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can be physically and/orcommunicatively independent (not shown) from the contact lens circuit200. However, in any embodiment, one or more of the pulse oximetrysensor 220 and its associated components, control component 210,circuitry 230, power source 240, transceiver 250, memory 260 and/ormicroprocessor 270, can be operatively coupled to one another to performone or more functions of the contact lens circuit 200.

With reference to FIG. 3, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can include alight source 310, a detector 320, a modulator 330, a filter component340, and/or a demodulator 350. The light source 310 can include one ormore LEDs positioned on or within the substrate (e.g. hydrogel) of thecontact lens. The LEDs function to illuminate a section of the eyeand/or eyelid in which one or more blood vessels are located. Thedetector 320 collects/receives light reflected off of and/or transmittedthrough a blood vessel (e.g. reflected light and transmitted light). Forexample, in an aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can function as areflectance pulse oximeter wherein the light source 310 and the detector320 are on a same side as a blood vessel being illuminated by the lightsource 310. In another aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 canfunction as a transmittance pulse oximeter wherein the light source 310and the detector 320 are on opposite sides a blood vessel beingilluminated by the light source 310. In response to receiving reflectedand/or transmitted light, the detector 320 produces a signalcorresponding to an amount of light received. In an aspect, the LEDsilluminate the blood vessel for a predetermined period of timesufficient to accurately determine a pulse rate from the signalgenerated by the detector. For example, the pulse oximetry sensor 220may apply a detection interval of anywhere from about three seconds toabout sixty seconds.

The amount of light received by the detector 320 depends at least inpart on wavelength or known intensity of light transmitted by the lightsource 310 and an amount of oxygenated blood present in a blood vesselfrom which the received light is reflected and/or transmitted. The LEDsof the light source can transmit various types of light having variouswavelengths. For example, in an aspect, the LEDs can transmit infraredlight (IR). In other aspects, the LEDs can transmit visible light,including red light yellow light, green light, blue light, and purplelight. Still in other aspects, the LEDs can transmit ultraviolet light(UV). Further, each of the one or more LEDs of the light source cantransmit the same type of light. In another aspect, at least two of theone or more LEDs of the light source can transmit a different type oflight.

In some aspects, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can employ a modulator330 to modulate light transmitted by the light source 310. In turn, thedetector 320 can be configured to detect the modulated light signal. Forexample, the modulator 330 can modulate transmitted light so that thedetector can better differentiate between light transmitted by lightsource 310 as opposed to interfering light waves from other sources(e.g. UV rays from the sun and/or ambient light). The pulse oximetrysensor (or circuit 106, circuit 200 and the like), can further employ ademodulator 350 to demodulate a received modulated signal.

In an embodiment, the light source 310 employs one or more LEDs thatemit red light (R) and one or more LEDs that emit infrared light (IR).In particular, hemoglobin bound to oxygen is called oxygenatedhemoglobin and has a bright red color. Hemoglobin with no oxygen boundto it is called deoxygenated hemoglobin and has a dark red color.Oxygenated hemoglobin absorbs more infrared light, while deoxygenatedhemoglobin absorbs more red light. According to this embodiment,percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin (e.g. the blood oxygen saturation)and deoxygenated hemoglobin can be determined by measuring the ratio ofinfrared and red light received at the detector 320. In turn, oxygensaturation of blood of a wearer of the contact lens can be determined asa function of the ratio of the two waveforms in the signal generated bythe detector. When amount of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂) is greaterthan amount of deoxygenated hemoglobin, absorption of red light is lessthan absorption of infrared light, resulting in a lower ratio ofabsorption of the two wavelengths. In contrast, when amount ofdeoxygenated hemoglobin is greater than amount of oxygenated hemoglobin,absorption of red light is greater than while absorption of infraredlight is less, resulting in an increased ratio of absorption of the twowavelengths.

The detector 320 converts received light into a signal representative ofan amount of received. In some aspect, the signal is representative ofan amount of light over a period of time. The detector 320 can includeone or more detectors. In an aspect, the detector 320 can be aphotodetector that comprises one or more photodiodes configured toabsorb light. In some aspects, the detector 320 detects lightspecifically transmitted by the light source 310. According to thisaspect, the detector can employ a filter component 340 comprising one ormore filters that selectively filter out light not transmitted by lightsource 310. For example, the filter can selectively allow only a signalhaving a known modulation scheme to be received at the detector 320. Inanother aspect, as discussed in greater detail below, the detectorcomponent 320 can detect all suitable forms of light received at thedetector. For example, the detector can detect environmental light (e.g.sunlight, ambient light or natural light) in addition to lighttransmitted by light source 310. According to this aspect, the detector320 can employ various means to differentiate between received lightforms and generate an output signal that differentiates between thereceived light forms. For example, the detector can differentiatebetween modulated and non-modulated light signals using various filtersand/or demodulation schemes.

In an embodiment, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 is configured to detectinformation regarding an amount of light transmitted through a bloodvessel by employing environmental light as a light source. According tothis embodiment, eye blinks can be employed to capture environmentallight levels. By using the light levels between an open eye and a closedeyelid it is possible to calculate the absolute amount of oxygen invessels in the eyelid (e.g. via microprocessor 270 or processor 650 asdiscussed below).

In an aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor can operate without an internallight source 310 or with the internal light source 310 turned off. Inparticular, a detector 320 can be located on an area of a contact lensthat is not covered by an eyelid when the eye in which the contact lensis worn is open. Therefore when the eye is open, the detector canreceive environmental light. The detector 320 can further be configuredto gather multiple reading of an amount of environmental light receiveddirectly (e.g. not transmitted through a blood vessel), in order toobtain an accurate measurement signal for direct environmental light. Inaddition, the detector 320 can be configured to measure an amount oflight received when a wearer closes his or her eyelid and no internallight source 310 is employed/turned on. Such light received will be theamount of environmental light transmitted through a blood vessel in theeyelid from the environmental light.

In some aspects, readings of direct environmental light and transmittedenvironmental light (light transmitted through a blood vessel in theeyelid) can be employed to determine blood oxygenation levels and pulsewithout the need of any additional sensed/detected information by thepulse oximetry sensor. In other aspects, signals produced by thedetector 320 corresponding to direct environmental light and transmittedenvironmental light can be employed as calibration information. Suchcalibration information can be employed in conjunction with additionalpulse oximetry sensor 220 readings obtained using light source 310 tomore accurately determine blood oxygenation levels. For example, betweensuccessive blinks, the detector 320 can recalibrate what the baselineenvironmental light level is and use that baseline to correlate theoxygenation level.

It should be appreciated that components of the pulse oximetry sensor220 such as light source 310 and detector 320 can be integrated atvarious locations on and/or within the substrate of the contact lens.For example, LEDs can be located at multiple locations within a contactlens and orientated to emit light at different sections of the eyeand/or eyelid of the eye in which the contact lens is worn. Further, oneor more detectors can be positioned on or within the contact lens sothat light transmitted through and/or reflected off of a blood vessel,in response to illumination by the light source or in response toillumination by environmental light, is received at the one or moredetectors.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in addition to the pulse oximetry sensor, thecontact lens circuit 200 can further include control component 210,circuitry 230, power source 240, transceiver 250, memory 260 and/ormicroprocessor 270. Control component 210 controls the operations ofcontact lens circuit 200, including operation of the pulse oximetrysensor 220. Circuitry 230 provides connections between components of thecontact lens circuit 200 to facilitate operation of the contact lenscircuit. For example circuitry 230 facilitates collection of signalsgenerated by the pulse oximetry sensor 220. Circuitry 230 can furthersend detected signals/values to transceiver 250, memory 260, and/ormicroprocessor 270. Power source 240 can include any suitable powersource that can provide necessary power for the operation of variouscomponents of the contact lens circuit 200. For example, the powersource 240 can include but is not limited to a battery, a capacitor, asolar power source, or mechanically derived power source (e.g., MEMssystem). Transceiver 250 transmits and receives information to and fromcontact lens circuit 200. In some embodiments, the transceiver 250 caninclude an RF antenna.

In an aspect, the control component 210 directs operation of the pulseoximetry sensor 220 according to a preconfigured protocol stored inmemory 260. In other aspects, the control component 210 directsoperation of the pulse oximetry sensor according to instructionsreceived, via the transceiver 250, from an external device (e.g. readerdevice 110). In an aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can perform avariety of sensing mechanisms to collect information indicative of acontact lens wearer blood oxygen saturation and/or pulse. It should beappreciated that control component 210 facilitates operation of thevarious mechanisms of the pulse oximetry sensor. For example, in anaspect, the pulse oximetry sensor can collect data in response toillumination of its light source 310. In other aspects, the pulseoximetry sensor can collect data in response to illumination byenvironmental light.

In an aspect, illumination of the light source of the pulse oximetrysensor 220 is a collective on/off operation. However, in other aspects,the light source may include multiple LEDs that can be independentlycontrolled. Still in yet another aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor maynot employ a light source 310 at all and merely operate usingenvironmental light. For example, the pulse oximetry sensor can includea first set of LEDs that emit a first type of light towards a bloodvessel in an upper eyelid of the eye in which the contact lens is wornand a second set of LEDs that emit a second type of light towards ablood vessel in the eye. According to this aspect, the control component210 can independently direct operation of the light source 310 so thatdifferent sets of LEDs are turned on and off at different times. Inaddition, a detector 320 of the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can detectlight (e.g. direct environmental light and/or transmitted environmentallight) when the light source 310 is not turned on/not employed.Accordingly, the control component 210 can further control the detectingof light signals when the light source of the pulse oximetry sensor 220is not turned on/not employed.

In an embodiment, the control component 210 controls operation of thepulse oximetry sensor to collect direct environmental light and/ortransmitted environmental light. In some aspects, readings of directenvironmental light and transmitted environmental light (lighttransmitted through a blood vessel in the eyelid) can be employed todetermine blood oxygenation levels without the need of any additionalsensed/detected information by the pulse oximetry sensor. In otheraspects, signals produced by the detector 320 corresponding to directenvironmental light and transmitted environmental light can be employedto calibrate the pulse oximetry sensor. For example, when an individualinitially places a contact lens having circuit 200 into his or her eye,the contact lens may need to be calibrated in order to produce accuratereadings of the individual's blood oxygen level and/or pulse.

The control component 210 can direct the detector of pulse oximetrysensor to obtain one or more readings of direct environmental light. Themultiple readings can then be averaged to obtain an accurate measurementof environmental light. In some aspect, the control component 210 candirect the pulse oximetry sensor to re-calibrate, (e.g. obtain a newmeasurement for direct environmental light). In order to detecttransmitted environmental light, the detector 320 detects light receivedwhen an eyelid covers the detector. In some aspects, the controlcomponent 210 directs the detector to collect transmitted environmentallight signals when a wearer blinks. In other aspects, a wearer of thecontact lens can facilitate generation of transmitted environmentallight measurements.

For example, a wearer of a contact lens can voluntarily close his or hereye for a predetermined period of time (as defined by instructionsprovided with the contact lens at the time of purchase or etc.). Suchclosing of the eye can be sensed by the detector and/or the controlcomponent and prompt the detector to perform detection of transmittedenvironmental light. In another example, the wearer of the contact lenscan cooperate with a reader device. According to this example, thereader device can instruct a wearer of a contact lens when and for howlong to close and open his or her eye in order to obtain detected lightmeasurements when the eye is closed (e.g. transmitted environmentallight measurements). The reader device can further direct, viawirelessly transmitted control signals, the pulse oximetry 220 sensor toobtain detector readings when the eye is closed and opened.

In an aspect, in order to generate information that can be employed todetermine pulse or blood oxygenation, the pulse oximetry sensor cangenerate data when the light source 310 is operated under variousconfigurations. For example, the control component 210 can direct thepulse oximetry sensor to generate data when the light source is turnedcollectively on and off, and/or when the light source is turnedcollectively on and off when the wearer of the contact lens completelycloses his or her eye. It should be appreciated that readings requiringopening and closing of an eye can be obtained in response to involuntaryblinking by a wearer or directed closing of the eye by the wearer inresponse to instructions provided to the wearer. As noted above, suchinstructions may be provided with the contact lens at purchase or by areader device that cooperates with the contact lens.

In another example, information that can be employed to determine pulseor blood oxygenation can be measured by illuminating different sets ofLEDs of the light source, where the different sets of the LEDs of thelight source either illuminate different blood vessels or emit differenttypes of light. It should be appreciated that sensor readings undervarious test/calibration conditions can serve as baseline informationfrom which a wearer's actual blood oxygen level and/or pulse rate can becalculated (e.g. via microprocessor 270 and/or analysis component 530).

In an aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 performs detection ofinformation indicative of oxygen saturation and/or pulse (e.g. amount oflight received at the detector of the pulse oximetry sensor and/orperiodic fluctuations in the amount of light received) on a continuousbasis. For example, assuming the pulse oximetry sensor 220 is calibratedor has previously generated calibration information, the pulse oximetrysensor 220 may operate at the direction of control component 210according to a programmed schedule defined in memory 260. For example,the programmed schedule may direct detection of information indicativeof oxygen saturation and/or pulse by the pulse oximetry sensor 220 everythirty seconds, every minute, every thirty minutes, every hour, and etc.For instance, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can illuminate blood vesselsin the eye and detect reflected and/or transmitted light in response tothe illumination, according to a schedule. According to this aspect,transceiver 250 can further be configured to transmit detectedinformation according to a same or similar programmed schedule as thepulse oximetry sensor 220. For example, the detected information can betransmitted to a reader device for processing thereof. However, in someaspects, the detected information is analyzed and processed at thecontact lens circuit via microprocessor 270. For example, microprocessor270 may determine or infer the blood oxygen saturation level and/orpulse of the wearer of the contact lens based on the signals generatedby the pulse oximetry sensor.

In another aspect, where microprocessor 270 analyzes detectedinformation to determine the blood oxygen saturation level and/or pulseof the wearer of the contact lens, the transceiver 250 can be configuredto transmit data indicating a determined blood oxygen level and/or pulserate when the determined data is outside of a predetermined range. Forexample, the pulse oximetry sensor may routinely detect informationindicative of blood oxygen level and/or pulse rate or the wearer of thecontact lens and the microprocessor may routinely determine the bloodoxygen level and/or pulse rate based on the detected information. Whenthe blood oxygen level and/or pulse rate falls outside a predeterminedrange, the transceiver 240 may send an alert to a reader device. Forexample, an athlete may wear a contact lens having circuit 200. As theathlete is exercising, he may desire to monitor his blood oxygen leveland heart rate. In an aspect, when his heart rate and/or blood oxygenlevel is too high or too low, he may receive a message at a personaldevice, such as a cell phone or ear monitor, indicating his heart rateand/or blood oxygen level.

In yet another aspect, the pulse oximetry sensor 220 can performdetection of blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate information inresponse to a request signal. For example, transceiver 250 can receive arequest from a remote device (e.g. a reader device 110) for informationindicative of blood oxygen saturation and/or pulse rate of a wearer ofthe contact lens. In turn, the detection component 210 can detect theinformation. In some aspects, the microprocessor 270 can furtherdetermine the wearer's blood oxygen saturation and/or pulse rate basedon the detected information. The transceiver 250 can then transmit thedetected and/or determined information back to the reader device.

Processing of information detected by the pulse oximetry sensor 220 canbe performed by a remote device processor and/or microprocessor 270.Microprocessor 270 and/or a remote processor can employ variousmechanisms in order to determine blood oxygen content and/or pulse ratefrom information detected by the pulse oximetry sensor 220. In general,the pulse oximetry sensor 210 produces an electrical signalcorresponding to an amount or magnitude of light received at thedetector over the course of a period of time. In some aspects, the lightreceived is reflected light while in other aspects, the light receivedis transmitted light. Blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate can bedetermined based at least in part on the amount/magnitude of lightreceived at the detector and fluctuations in the amount of lightreceived over time (in response to blood vessel expansion andcontraction with each heart beat).

In addition, a variety of other factors that can influence blood oxygensaturation and/or pulse rate determinations, including but not limitedto: calibration information, conditions under which the light isreceived (e.g. eye open/closed) type of light received at the detector(e.g. environmental light, transmitted light, reflected light,wavelength, intensity of light), position of the light source withrespect to the detector, position of blood vessel illuminated by thelight source, size shape and thickness of the contact lens substrate,material of the substrate, or saturation level of the substrate.

Microprocessor 270 (and/or an external processor) may employ variousalgorithms or look up tables that relate detected information to bloodoxygen saturation levels and/or pulse rate. For example, where the lightsource of the sensor transmit red light and infrared light, themicroprocessor can determine the percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin(e.g. the blood oxygen saturation) and deoxygenated hemoglobin in anindividual's blood by calculating the ratio of infrared and red lightreceived at the detector. The output ratio can further be correlated toa blood oxygen level using a look up table stored in memory 260.

In various embodiments, memory 260 can store information detected by thepulse oximetry sensor. Further, memory 260 can store any informationnecessary for microprocessor 270 (and/or an external processor) toperform calculations and determinations of a wearer's blood oxygencontent and/or pulse. For example, memory 260 can store algorithms, lookup tables and known values required for the algorithmic calculationsthat are configured to compute blood oxygenation level and/or pulse rate(e.g. calibration information, type of light employed by the lightsource, features of possible light signals detectable by the detector,position of the light source with respect to the detector, modulationand demodulation information, position of blood vessel illuminated bythe light source, size shape and thickness of the contact lenssubstrate, material of the substrate, or saturation level of thesubstrate and etc.). Memory 260 can further store computer-executableinstructions for execution by the microprocessor 270. The microprocessor270 can execute computer-executable instructions to perform one or morefunctions of the contact lens circuit 200.

In an embodiment, microprocessor 270 (and/or an external processor) canemploy various (explicitly or implicitly trained) classification schemesor systems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks, expertsystems, Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, data fusion engines,etc.) in connection with performing analysis of detected information. Aclassifier can map an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, xn), toa confidence that the input belongs to a class, such as byf(x)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticor statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that a user desiresto be automatically performed. A support vector machine (SVM) is anexample of a classifier that can be employed. The SVM operates byfinding a hyper-surface in the space of possible inputs, where thehyper-surface attempts to split the triggering criteria from thenon-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes the classificationcorrect for testing data that is near, but not identical to trainingdata. Other directed and undirected model classification approachesinclude, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neuralnetworks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilistic classification modelsproviding different patterns of independence can be employed.Classification as used in this disclosure also is inclusive ofstatistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

With reference now to FIGS. 4A-4E, presented are different perspectivesof example contact lenses 102 employing a contact lens circuit (e.g.contact lens circuit 106, 200) having a pulse oximeter sensor (e.g.sensor 220). FIGS. 4A and 4B depict top planar views of example contactlenses and FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E present cross-sectional views of examplecontact lenses. It should be appreciated that features of the examplecontact lenses and the eye in which the example contact lenses are wornin FIGS. 4A-4E are not drawn to scale. Certain features are exaggeratedmerely for exemplary purposes. Further, it should be appreciated thatalthough the example contact lenses 102 in FIGS. 4A-4E are depictedhaving multiple light sources and multiple detectors, the contact lensesare not limited to such configurations. For example, an example contactlens can have any number N of light sources and detectors. In addition,any of the light source/detector configurations of example contactlenses 102 in FIGS. 4A-4E may be combined onto a single contact lens.

Turning initially to FIG. 4A, presented is a top planar view of anexample contact lens 102 (represented by the dashed line) being wornin/on an eye 104. The eye 102 depicted in FIG. 4A is considered open.The eye 104 is depicted having an upper eyelid 402 and a lower eyelid408 which cover at least part of the contact lens when the lens 102 isworn in the eye and the eye is open. The contact lens 102 includes acontact lens circuit 106 and a pulse oximetry sensor consisting ofmultiple light sources 404 and detectors 406. One or more wires (notshown) can connect the contact lens circuit 106, light sources 404and/or detectors 406. It should be appreciated that the multiple lightsources and detectors of contact lens 102 are merely presented todemonstrate different configurations of light source and detectorlocations. In some aspects, one or more light sources and/or detectorscan be removed and/or rearranged on the contact lens 102.

As seen in FIG. 4A, in an aspect, a light source 404 and a detector 406can be located side by side on the contact lens 102 in a area that iscovered by the upper eyelid 402 when the eye is open (e.g. on or aroundaxis Y). According to this aspect, the light source 404 may emit lighttowards a blood vessel in the upper eyelid 402 and the detector 406 mayreceive light reflected from the blood vessel. In another aspect, thelight source 404 may emit light towards a blood vessel in the portion ofthe eye covered by the upper eyelid 402 and the detector 406 may receivelight reflected from the blood vessel. Similarly, in an aspect, thecontact lens 102 may have two light sources located on either sides of asingle detector 404, a shown in the area covered by the lower eyelid408. The two light sources 404 in the area below the lower eyelid 408may also emit light towards a blood vessel in the eye 104 or the lowereyelid 408, and the light reflected off of the blood vessel can bereceived at the detector 406 located there between. In an aspect, bylocating the light sources 404 and the detectors in areas covered by aneyelid even when the eye is open, external interfering light signals canbe reduced.

In an aspect, a light source 404 can consist of a single LED. In anotheraspect, a light source can consist of two or more LEDs. For example, box410 presents an enlarged picture of a light source 404. As seen in box410, light source 404 comprises an array of LEDs 412. In particular, thelight source 404 in box 410 comprises thirty LEDs by way of example.

Turning now to FIG. 4B, presented is another top planar view of anexample contact lens 102 (represented by the dashed line) being wornin/on an eye 104. The eye 102 depicted in FIG. 4B is considered open.The eye 104 is depicted having an upper eyelid 402 and a lower eyelid408 which cover at least part of the contact lens when the lens 102 isworn in the eye and the eye is open. The contact lens 102 includes acontact lens circuit 106 and a pulse oximetry sensor consisting ofmultiple light sources 404 and detectors 406. One or more wires (notshown) can connect the contact lens circuit 106, light sources 404and/or detectors 406. It should be appreciated that the multiple lightsources and detectors of contact lens 102 are merely presented todemonstrate different configurations of light source and detectorlocations. In some aspects, one or more light sources and/or detectorscan be removed and/or rearranged on the contact lens 102.

As seen in FIG. 4B, in an aspect, one or more light sources 404 can belocated aside a detector 406 on the contact lens 102 in a area that isnot covered by an eyelid 402 when the eye is open (e.g. on or aroundaxis X). According to this aspect, the light source(s) 404 may emitlight towards a blood vessel in the portion of the eye that is notcovered by an eyelid 402 or 408 and the detector 406 can receive lightreflected from the blood vessel.

Continuing to FIG. 4C, presented is a cross-sectional view of an examplecontact lens 102 being worn in/on an eye 104. The eye 102 depicted inFIG. 4C is considered open. The contact lens 102 includes a contact lenscircuit 106 and a pulse oximetry sensor consisting of multiple lightsources 404 and detectors 406. One or more wires (not shown) can connectthe contact lens circuit 106, light sources 404 and/or detectors 406. Itshould be appreciated that the multiple light sources and detectors ofcontact lens 102 are merely presented to demonstrate differentconfigurations of light source and detector locations. In some aspects,one or more light sources and/or detectors can be removed and/orrearranged on the contact lens 102.

As seen in FIG. 4C, in an aspect, one or more light sources 404 can belocated aside a detector 406 on the contact lens 102 within the hydrogelsubstrate of the contact lens and on or near an inner surface 420 of thecontact lens that is adjacent to the eye when the contact lens is wornin the eye. According to this aspect, the light sources 404 can beconfigured to emit light 414 towards one or more blood vessels 418located on the eye 104. In turn, the detectors 406 can be configured todetect light reflected 416 off of the one or more blood vessels. In anaspect, the one or more light sources can be located in a area that isnot covered by an eyelid when the eye is open (e.g. on or around axis Xof FIG. 4B). In an aspect, the one or more light sources can be locatedin a area that is covered by an eyelid when the eye is open (e.g. on oraround axis Y of FIG. 4A).

With reference to FIG. 4D, presented is another cross-sectional view ofan example contact lens 102 being worn in/on an eye 104. The contactlens 102 includes a contact lens circuit 106 and a pulse oximetry sensorconsisting of multiple light sources 404 and detectors 406. One or morewires (not shown) can connect the contact lens circuit 106, lightsources 404 and/or detectors 406. It should be appreciated that themultiple light sources and detectors of contact lens 102 are merelypresented to demonstrate different configurations of light source anddetector locations. In some aspects, one or more light sources and/ordetectors can be removed and/or rearranged on the contact lens 102.

As seen in FIG. 4D, in an aspect, one or more light sources 404 can belocated aside a detector 406 on the contact lens 102 within the hydrogelsubstrate of the contact lens and on or near an outer surface 422 of thecontact lens that is opposite the inner surface and adjacent an eyelid402 and/or 408 when the contact lens is worn in the eye. According tothis aspect, the light sources 404 can be configured to emit light 414towards one or more blood vessels 418 located in an eyelid 402 and/or408. In turn, the detectors 406 can be configured to detect lightreflected 416 off of the one or more blood vessels. In an aspect, theone or more light sources can be located in an area that is not coveredby an eyelid when the eye is open (e.g. on or around axis X of FIG. 4B).According to this aspect, the one or more light sources 404 can beconfigured to emit light towards an eyelid when the wearer closes his orher eye. In another aspect, the one or more light sources 404 can belocated in an area that is covered by an eyelid when the eye is open(e.g. on or around axis Y of FIG. 4A). According to this aspect, the oneor more light sources 404 can be configured to emit light when towardsan eyelid when the wearer closes his or her eye and/or opens his or hereye.

Continuing to FIG. 4E, presented is another cross-sectional view of anexample contact lens 102 being worn in/on an eye 104. The contact lens102 includes a contact lens circuit 106 and a pulse oximetry sensorconsisting of at least one light source 404 and a detector 406. One ormore wires (not shown) can connect the contact lens circuit 106, lightsource 404 and/or detector 406. The pulse oximeter presented in FIG. 4Eis a transmittance pulse oximeter. In particular, as seen in FIG. 4E,the light source 404 and the detector 406 are located within the contactlens and on opposite sides of blood vessels through which light 424 istransmitted. In particular, the light source 404 can be located withinthe substrate at the perimeter edge of the contact lens and the detector406 can be located directly across from the light source within thesubstrate at an opposite perimeter edge of the contact lens. Due to thecurvature of the contact lens 102, the light source can be angled sothat light 424 is emitted therefrom and passes through the eye 104 to bereceived at the detector 406 at the opposing side of the contact lens102.

Looking now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, presented are across-sectional views ofan example contact lens 102 being worn in/on an eye 104. FIG. 5A depictsthe contact lens under operation when the eye 104 is open and FIG. 5Bdepicts the contact lens under operation when the eye 104 is closed.FIGS. 5A and 5B demonstrate the detection capabilities of the contactlens pulse oximetry sensor regarding environmental light, particularlylight from the sun 502.

With reference to FIG. 5A, the contact lens 102 includes a contact lenscircuit 106 and a pulse oximetry sensor consisting of multiple lightsources 404/404.1 and detectors 406/406.1. One or more wires (not shown)can connect the contact lens circuit 106, light sources 404 and/ordetectors 406. It should be appreciated that the multiple light sourcesand detectors of contact lens 102 are merely presented to demonstratedifferent configurations of light source and detector locations. In someaspects, one or more light sources and/or detectors can be removedand/or rearranged on the contact lens 102.

As seen in FIG. 5A, in an aspect, a light source 404.1 can be locatedaside a detector 406.1 on the contact lens 102 within the hydrogelsubstrate of the contact lens and on or near an outer surface 422 of thecontact lens. In an aspect, detector 406.1 can stand alone and does notneed to be aside a light source 404.1. In other aspects, detector 406.1can operate with light source 404.1 turned off and on. The detector406.1 and light source 404.1 are further located within the hydrogel inan area of the contact lens 102 that is not covered by an eyelid 402/408when the eye is open. According to this aspect, the detector isconfigured to receive direct environmental light 504 when the eye isopen. In addition, as seen in FIG. 5B, the detector 406.1 is configuredto received transmitted environmental light 508 when the eye 104 isclosed. The transmitted environmental light 508 is light that is notabsorbed by blood vessels in the eyelid 402 but transmitted therethrough such blood vessels with the sun 502 as the light source. In FIG.5B, the eye is closed as indicated by the covering of the eye 104 by theupper eyelid 402.

In addition, in an aspect contact lens 102 as represented in FIGS. 5Aand 5B can generate signals using light sources 404.1 and 404 underconditions when the eye 104 is opened and closed. Such additionalsignals can further be employed to calibrate the pulse oximetry sensorand/or to determine blood oxygenation levels and/or pulse rate.

With reference to FIG. 5A, contact lens 102 can also include lightsource 404 and detector 406 located on or near an outer surface 422 ofthe contact and within an area of the contact lens that is covered by aneyelid 408 when the eye is open. According to this aspect, light sources404 can be configured to emit light towards one or more blood vesselslocated in eyelid 408 when the eye is open (FIG. 5A) and/or closed (FIG.5B). In turn, detector 406 can be configured to detect light reflectedoff of the one or more blood vessels when the eye is open (reflectedlight 506 in FIG. 5A) and/or to detect light reflected off of the one ormore blood vessels when the eye is closed (reflected light 512 in FIG.5B). Further, light source 404.1 can be configured to emit light towardsone or more blood vessels located in eyelid 402 when the eye is closed(FIG. 5B). In turn, detector 406.1 can be configured to detect lightreflected off of the one or more blood vessels when the eye is closed(reflected light 510 in FIG. 5B).

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary non-limiting reader device 600that interfaces with a contact lens employing a pulse oximetry sensor todetect information indicative of a blood oxygen saturation level and/ora pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein. In various aspects, the reader device 600 can includeone or more of the structure and/or functionality of the reader device110 (and vice versa).

As shown in FIG. 6, reader device 600 can include interface component610, analysis component 620, display component 630, and requestcomponent 640. In an embodiment, aspects of device 600 constitutemachine-executable components embodied within machine(s), e.g., embodiedin one or more computer readable mediums (or media) associated with oneor more machines. Such components, when executed by the one or moremachines, e.g., computer(s), computing device(s), virtual machine(s),etc. can cause the machine(s) to perform the operations described.Device 600 can include memory 660 for storing computer executablecomponents and instructions. A processor 650 can facilitate operation ofthe computer executable components and instructions by device 600.

Interface component 610 interfaces with and receives from at least onecontact lens, data relating to blood oxygen content and/or a pulse of awearer of the contact lens. In particular, interface component 610 caninterface with contact lenses described herein that comprise a contactlens circuit such as contact lens circuit 106 and/or contact lenscircuit 200 (e.g. contact lens 102). In an aspect, interface component610 employs a receiver, such as an RF receiver, to receive detectedand/or determined information from a contact lens comprising a contactlens circuit as described herein. In some aspects, interface component610 can receive from a contact lens, a determined value indicating bloodoxygen content and/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens.According to this aspect, the contact lens may include appropriatecircuitry and components to process data detected by a pulse oximetrysensor thereon and/or therein.

In another aspect, the reader can receive raw data from a contact lensthat is detected by a pulse oximetry sensor located thereon/therein. Forexample, the interface component 610 may request and receive calibrationinformation and detected information indicative of the wearers bloodoxygen level and/or pulse rate (e.g. a signal representative of anamount and wavelength of light received at the sensor's detector overtime. According to this embodiment, the reader 600 can comprise ananalysis component 620 that can analyze the received raw data and todetermine a blood oxygen level and/or pulse rate of the wearer of thecontact lens from which the data was transmitted. For example, theanalysis component 620 can perform the same or similar analysistechniques as microprocessor 270 using processor 650 and memory 660.Further, memory 660 can store same or similar information as memory 260.

Request component 640 can transmit a request to a contact lens fordatarelating to a blood oxygen level and/or pulse rate of a wearer ofthe contact lens. For example, the request component 640 can requestdetected raw data and/or determined blood oxygen levels and/or pulserates. In an aspect, the request can prompt the contact lens to performspecific types of detection and/or analysis. For example, the requestmay prompt the contact lens to generate and transmit data relating to ablood oxygen level and/or a pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens,including calibration information. Such information can includeinformation that is detected under specifically requested conditions.For example, the request component 640 can request data detected inresponse to opening and closing an eye in which the contact lens inworn. According to this aspect, the request component can instruct awearer of the contact lens when and for how long to open and close hisor her eye (e.g. via presenting a visual or audible signal to thewearer). As a result the reader device can control the collection ofsignals by the contact lens when the user opens and closes his or hereye.

For example, the request may include instructions for the pulse oximeterto undergo calibration. According to this aspect, the request can alsosignal the wearer of the contact lens to open and close his or her eyein accordance with procedure for generating calibration information. Forinstance, the request component 640 may send a calibration request tothe contact lens and at the same time, instruct the wearer of thecontact lens to hold his or her eye closed. In an aspect, the requestcomponent can signal an alarm, such as a sound or image, to indicatewhen the wearer of the contact lens should open and close his or her eyeduring the calibration process.

The reader device 600 can further include a display component 630 thatpresents a display or response corresponding to received and/ordetermined information. For example, the reader device may presentdigital display with a value of an individual's blood oxygen leveland/or pulse rate. In another aspect, the reader device by employ speechsoftware to audibly read out determined information. Reader device 600can include any suitable computing device capable of wirelesslytransmitting and receiving information, displaying information, soundinginformation, and/or processing data detected via a pulse oximeterprovided on/or within a contact lens as described herein. For example,reader device 600 can include but is not limited to, a cellular phone, asmart phone, a personal digital assistant, an ipod, a watch, a wearabledevice, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer.

FIGS. 7-8 illustrates methodologies or flow diagrams in accordance withcertain aspects of this disclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity ofexplanation, the methodologies are shown and described as a series ofacts, the disclosed subject matter is not limited by the order of acts,as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently withother acts from that shown and described herein. For example, thoseskilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology canalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated actsmay be required to implement a methodology in accordance with thedisclosed subject matter. Additionally, it is to be appreciated that themethodologies disclosed in this disclosure are capable of being storedon an article of manufacture to facilitate transporting and transferringsuch methodologies to computers or other computing devices.

Referring now to FIG. 7, presented is a flow diagram of an exampleapplication of systems and apparatuses disclosed in this description inaccordance with an embodiment. In an aspect, in exemplary methodology700, a contact lens such as those described herein (e.g. 102 and thelike) is employed to detect information pertaining to a blood oxygencontent and/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens. At 710,information associated with at least one of a blood oxygen content or apulse rate of a wearer of a contact lens is detected using a pulseoximetry sensor located on or within the contact lens (e.g., pulseoximetry sensor 220 of contact lens 102). The pulse oximetry sensorcomprises one or more light emitting diodes and a detector. Thedetecting includes illuminating a blood vessel of at least one of aregion of an eye or an eyelid via the one or more light emitting diodes,720, receiving light reflected from the blood vessel at the detector,730, and generating the information based in part on the reflectedlight, 740 (e.g. using pulse oximetry sensor 220 of contact lens 102).

Turning now to FIG. 8, a method 800 can include receiving informationdetected by a contact lens relating to a blood oxygen content and/orpulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens (e.g. using reader device 110or 600). At 810, data relating to a blood oxygen content and/or pulserate of a wearer of the contact lens is received (e.g. using interfacecomponent 610). In an aspect, the data is received in response to arequest for the data sent by a reader device at which the data isreceived. The request can initialize detection by the pulse oximetrysensor of the contact lens from which the data is generated and receivedfrom. At 820, the received data is analyzed and the blood oxygen contentand/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens determined (e.g. usinganalysis component 620). At 830, a display is generated corresponding tothe blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contactlens (e.g. using display component 630).

Exemplary Networked and Distributed Environments

FIG. 9 provides a schematic diagram of an exemplary networked ordistributed computing environment with which one or more aspectsdescribed in this disclosure can be associated. The distributedcomputing environment includes computing objects 910, 912, etc. andcomputing objects or devices 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, etc., which caninclude programs, methods, data stores, programmable logic, etc., asrepresented by applications 930, 932, 934, 936, 938. It can beappreciated that computing objects 910, 912, etc. and computing objectsor devices 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, etc. can include different devices,such as active contact lenses (and components thereof), personal digitalassistants (PDAs), audio/video devices, mobile phones, MPEG-1 AudioLayer 3 (MP3) players, personal computers, laptops, tablets, etc.

Each computing object 910, 912, etc. and computing objects or devices920, 922, 924, 926, 928, etc. can communicate with one or more othercomputing objects 910, 912, etc. and computing objects or devices 920,922, 924, 926, 928, etc. by way of the communications network 940,either directly or indirectly. Even though illustrated as a singleelement in FIG. 9, network 940 can include other computing objects andcomputing devices that provide services to the system of FIG. 9, and/orcan represent multiple interconnected networks, which are not shown.

In a network environment in which the communications network/bus 940 canbe the Internet, the computing objects 910, 912, etc. can be Webservers, file servers, media servers, etc. with which the clientcomputing objects or devices 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, etc. communicatevia any of a number of known protocols, such as the hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP).

Exemplary Computing Device

As mentioned, advantageously, the techniques described in thisdisclosure can be associated with any suitable device. It is to beunderstood, therefore, that handheld, portable and other computingdevices (including active contact lens having circuitry or componentsthat compute and/or perform various functions). As described, in someaspects, the device can be the contact lens (or components of thecontact lens) and/or reader described herein. In various aspects, thedata store can include or be included within, any of the memorydescribed herein, any of the contact lenses described herein and/or thereader device described herein. In various aspects, the data store canbe any repository for storing information transmitted to or receivedfrom the contact lens.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a suitable computing systemenvironment 1000 in which one or aspects of the aspects described inthis disclosure can be implemented. Components of computer 1010 caninclude, but are not limited to, a processing unit 1020, a system memory1030, and a system bus 1022 that couples various system componentsincluding the system memory to the processing unit 1020.

Computer 1010 typically includes a variety of computer readable mediaand can be any available media that can be accessed by computer 1010.The system memory 1030 can include computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) and/orrandom access memory (RAM). By way of example, and not limitation,memory 1030 can also include an operating system, application programs,other program components, and program data.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1010 throughinput devices 1040 (e.g., keyboard, keypad, a pointing device, a mouse,stylus, touchpad, touch screen, motion detector, camera, microphone orany other device that allows the user to interact with the computer1010). A monitor or other type of display device can be also connectedto the system bus 1022 via an interface, such as output interface 1050.In addition to a monitor, computers can also include other peripheraloutput devices such as speakers and a printer, which can be connectedthrough output interface 1050.

The computer 1010 can operate in a networked or distributed environmentusing logical connections to one or more other remote computers, such asremote computer 1060. The remote computer 1060 can be a personalcomputer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or othercommon network node, or any other remote media consumption ortransmission device, and can include any or all of the elementsdescribed above relative to the computer 1010. The logical connectionsdepicted in FIG. 10 include a network 1070, such local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), but can also include othernetworks/buses e.g., cellular networks.

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media and/or communications media, inwhich these two terms are used herein differently from one another asfollows. Computer-readable storage media can be any available storagemedia that can be accessed by the computer, can be typically of anon-transitory nature, and can include both volatile and nonvolatilemedia, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable storage media can be implemented inconnection with any method or technology for storage of information suchas computer-readable instructions, program components, structured data,or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media can include, butare not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable readonly memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, or othertangible and/or non-transitory media which can be used to store desiredinformation. Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one ormore local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access requests,queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety of operationswith respect to the information stored by the medium. In variousaspects, the computer-readable storage media can be, or be includedwithin, the memory, contact lens (or components thereof) or readerdescribed herein.

On the other hand, communications media typically embodycomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program components orother structured or unstructured data in a data signal such as amodulated data signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transportmechanism, and includes any information delivery or transport media. Theterm “modulated data signal” or signals refers to a signal that has oneor more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as toencode information in one or more signals.

It is to be understood that the aspects described in this disclosure canbe implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,or any combination thereof. For a hardware aspect, the processing unitscan be implemented within one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signalprocessing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors and/or other electronic unitsdesigned to perform the functions described in this disclosure, or acombination thereof.

For a software aspect, the techniques described in this disclosure canbe implemented with components or components (e.g., procedures,functions, and so on) that perform the functions described in thisdisclosure. The software codes can be stored in memory units andexecuted by processors.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more aspects.It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combinationof components or methodologies for purposes of describing theaforementioned aspects, but one of ordinary skill in the art canrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of variousaspects are possible. Accordingly, the described aspects are intended toembrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Moreover, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom the context, the phrase “X employs A or B” is intended to mean anyof the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase “X employs Aor B” is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; Xemploys B; or X employs both A and B. In addition, the articles “a” and“an” as used in this application and the appended claims shouldgenerally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwiseor clear from the context to be directed to a singular form.

The aforementioned systems have been described with respect tointeraction between several components. It can be appreciated that suchsystems and components can include those components or specifiedsub-components. Sub-components can also be implemented as componentscommunicatively coupled to other components rather than included withinparent components (hierarchical). Additionally, it is to be noted thatone or more components can be combined into a single component providingaggregate functionality. Any components described in this disclosure canalso interact with one or more other components not specificallydescribed in this disclosure but generally known by those of skill inthe art.

In view of the exemplary systems described above methodologies that canbe implemented in accordance with the described subject matter will bebetter appreciated with reference to the flowcharts of the variousfigures. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, themethodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to beunderstood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter is notlimited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described in this disclosure. Where non-sequential, orbranched, flow is illustrated via flowchart, it can be appreciated thatvarious other branches, flow paths, and orders of the blocks, can beimplemented which achieve the same or a similar result. Moreover, notall illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologiesdescribed in this disclosure after.

In addition to the various aspects described in this disclosure, it isto be understood that other similar aspects can be used or modificationsand additions can be made to the described aspect(s) for performing thesame or equivalent function of the corresponding aspect(s) withoutdeviating there from. Still further, multiple processing chips ormultiple devices can share the performance of one or more functionsdescribed in this disclosure, and similarly, storage can be providedacross a plurality of devices. The invention is not to be limited to anysingle aspect, but rather can be construed in breadth, spirit and scopein accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A contact lens, comprising: a substrate thatforms at least part of a body of the contact lens; and a pulse oximetrysensor located on or within the substrate configured to detectinformation associated with at least one of a blood oxygen content or apulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens, the pulse oximetry sensorcomprising: one or more light emitting diodes configured to illuminate ablood vessel of at least one of a region of an eye or an eyelid; and adetector configured to receive light transmitted through the bloodvessel and generate the information, wherein the information includes asignal indicating an amount of light transmitted through the bloodvessel; wherein the one or more light emitting diodes and the detectorare positioned away from a center of the contact lens; the contact lensconfigured to maintain an orientation when worn on an eye such that theone or more light emitting diodes and the detector are not covered by aneyelid when the eye is open.
 2. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein theone or more light emitting diodes are configured to illuminate the bloodvessel over a period of time as the blood vessel expands and contracts,and wherein the information includes a signal indicating time variancein an amount of light received from the blood vessel, in response toillumination of the blood vessel by the one or more light emittingdiodes, between blood vessel expansion and contraction.
 3. The contactlens of claim 1, wherein the detector is further configured to receivelight transmitted through the blood vessel of the eye, and wherein theinformation includes a signal indicating an amount of light transmittedthrough the blood vessel in response to illumination of the blood vesselby the one or more light emitting diodes.
 4. The contact lens of claim1, wherein at least one of the one or more light emitting diodes areconfigured to emit infrared light.
 5. The contact lens of claim 1,wherein the one or more light emitting diodes include a first diode thatis configured to emit infrared light and a second diode that isconfigured to emit red light.
 6. The contact lens of claim 1, furthercomprising: a circuit disposed on or within the substrate configured toreceive the information associated with the at least one of the bloodoxygen content or the pulse rate; and a transceiver configured totransmit the information.
 7. The contact lens of claim 6, wherein thepulse oximetry sensor is configured to detect the information inresponse to a request from a device external to the contact lens andwherein the transceiver is configured to receive the request andtransmit the information in response to the request.
 8. The contact lensof claim 7, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a messageindicating at least one of the blood oxygen content or the pulse rate ofthe wearer of the contact lens in response to a determination that theblood oxygen content or the pulse rate is outside a predetermined range.9. The contact lens of claim 6, further comprising a processorconfigured to determine at least one of the blood oxygen content or thepulse rate of the wearer of the contact lens based on the information.10. A method comprising: detecting, with one or more detectors of apulse oximetry sensor, light transmitted through a blood vessel of aregion of an eye or an eyelid, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor islocated on or within a contact lens; and generating informationassociated with at least one of a blood oxygen content or a pulse rateof a wearer of the contact lens based, at least in part, on the detectedlight, wherein the pulse oximetry sensor further comprises one or morelight emitting diodes, and wherein the one or more light emitting diodesand the one or more detectors are positioned away from the center of thecontact lens, the contact lens configured to maintain an orientationwhen worn on an eye such that the one or more light emitting diodes andthe one or more detectors are not covered by an eyelid when the contactlens is worn on the eye and the eye is open.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the detecting the information comprises: illuminating a bloodvessel of at least one of a region of an eye via the one or more lightemitting diodes; receiving transmitted light transmitted through theblood vessel at the one or more detectors in response to theilluminating; and generating the information based in part on thetransmitted light.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the informationincludes a signal indicating an amount of light transmitted through theblood vessel in response to the illuminating.
 13. The method of claim11, wherein the illuminating further comprises, via the one or morelight emitting diodes, illuminating the blood vessel over a period oftime as the blood vessel expands and contracts, and wherein theinformation includes a includes a signal indicating a time variance inan amount of light transmitted through the blood vessel, in response tothe illuminating, between blood vessel expansion and contraction. 14.The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting the information comprises:receiving open light at the detector when the one or more emittingdiodes are off and the eye is open; receiving closed light at the one ormore detectors when the one or more emitting diodes are off and the eyeis shut, wherein the closed light is transmitted through a blood vesselin the eyelid; and generating the information based in part on openlight and the closed light.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein at leastone of the one or more light emitting diodes emit infrared light. 16.The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more light emitting diodesinclude a first diode that emits infrared light and a second diode thatemits red light.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprisingtransmitting the information to a device external to the contact lens.18. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving a request forthe information from a device external to the contact lens, wherein thedetecting the information comprises detecting the information inresponse to the request; and transmitting the information to the devicein response to the request.
 19. A device, comprising: a memory thatstores computer executable components; and a processor that executes thefollowing computer executable components stored in the memory: aninterface component that interfaces with and receives from a contactlens, data collected from a sensor on the contact lens relating to atleast one of a blood oxygen content or a pulse rate of a wearer of acontact lens; a request component that transmits a request to thecontact lens, wherein the request includes instructions for the sensorto generate calibration information when an eye on which the contactlens is worn is open and when the eye on which the contact lens is wornis closed, wherein the calibration information includes a baselineenvironmental light level; an analysis component that analyzes thereceived data and the calibration information and determines at leastone of the blood oxygen content or the pulse rate of a wearer of acontact lens; and a display component that generates a displaycorresponding to the data.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein therequest includes a request for the data.